EDITH M. GRAHAM by Edith M. Graham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 1, 1915

EDITH M. GRAHAM

By Edith M. Graham

Growing Up in the Message — No. 1

EDITH M. GRAHAM

DURING the years that have passed since the proclamation of the third angel's message began, an alarming number of the children of believers have drifted into the world. In some conferences the statement has been made that as many of the children have gone from us, on attaining to maturity, as converts have been brought into the truth. In other words, had we saved our own children, and made no efforts to reach others, our gain in numbers would have been as great as it has been.

Is there not enough power and interest in this message to keep the children true to it as they grow up? Surely there is, and the children will grow up into it if they are trained in right principles.

Having given some study to the plans followed in a number of homes, and to their results, I wish to speak of some points in them which appear to me to be helpful.

Children are interested in that which strongly interests their parents. The things the parents talk about, plan for, and are engrossed in, insensibly mold the opinions of the children, and lay a strong foundation for their future lives. The parents may go to church on Sabbath, teach the Sabbath school lesson to the children regularly, pay their tithes, and give their offerings; but if, on six days of the week, their conversation and plans dwell almost entirely on the farm, the business, the things of this life, and how success may be attained in them, the minds of the children will be insensibly but surely given a tendency toward the world.

On the other hand, if the parents are absorbed in the message, loving it and the Lord, talking of it, planning for it, working to advance it by their personal efforts as well as by their means, the children will grow up with the feeling that this message is the greatest thing there is, and the attractions of the world will not draw them from it.

This is not theory, for I have watched both methods and their results. It is true that not all children trained under the first method go into the world; for other influences may counteract the worldly tendency that has been developed in their minds, and so they be converted. But the trend of thought manifested by the parents during the working days of the

week undoubtedly has a very strong influence on the character development of their children.

Children like to feel that they belong to something, and that their efforts in behalf of whatever this may be are of value. Those who are taught to work for the cause of God learn to love it. Here also is a valuable factor for holding them to the truth.

Takoma Park, D. C.